Staff WriterRace to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy is back in Abu Dhabi with unfinished business. The reigning Masters champion, already a titan of golf in the UAE, is determined to finally lift the Falcon Trophy at the 20th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this week—a title that’s somehow evaded him despite his glittering resume.
Since his debut in the Emirates back in 2006, Rory McIlroy has turned the desert into a personal playground, racking up seven DP World Tour victories in the region—four Hero Dubai Desert Classic wins and three DP World Tour Championship titles. But in Abu Dhabi? Just heartbreak. Four runner-up finishes. Five times third. Close, but never close enough.
“I’ve been close,” McIlroy said in his pre-tournament press conference. “Second four times and third five times or something. I’d say the majority of the times that we’ve played in Abu Dhabi, it’s been my first event of the year, and you’re just not quite… I’m not saying that’s all the reason but you’re just not quite as sharp and not quite as match fit as you would be in the middle of the season. I feel like this tournament going to the end of the year should hopefully give me a better opportunity to knock it off and finally get that Falcon Trophy.
“With how much I’ve won in Dubai and not being able to get it done an hour down the road, yeah, it’s something I want to try and achieve.”
Chasing History in the Race to Dubai
As it stands, Rory McIlroy leads the Race to Dubai Rankings heading into the DP World Tour Play-Offs with a commanding 441.32-point advantage over England’s Marco Penge. A win in Abu Dhabi could pave the way for McIlroy to clinch his seventh Harry Vardon Trophy, pulling him within touching distance of Colin Montgomerie’s record eight titles.
“When I got to six last year and tied Seve, and Monty doesn’t feel that far away, it’s like, yeah, that’s something that I would love to do,” McIlroy said, who tees off alongside Penge and Tyrrell Hatton tomorrow.
“Let’s see if I can do it. I’ve given myself a really good shot again this year. But I know I’m going to have a good challenge from Marco and Tyrrell and a few other guys behind me. But I’m excited for the challenge over these next couple weeks.”
Fans Set for a Celebration of Golf in the Desert
This week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship marks its 20th anniversary, and organisers have gone all out to make it a true fan spectacle. General admission is free for the first two days, while weekend tickets start at just AED 100.
Those looking to make a weekend of it can upgrade to Bar on Nine, the popular Ticket+ experience returning from 2024, priced from AED 230 and including an AED 100 food and drink voucher.
For the full VIP treatment, there’s the Championship Chalet on the 18th, where guests can enjoy five-star hospitality, air-conditioned comfort, and balcony views of the final hole—all from AED 1680.
Whether it’s the fans, the Falcons, or Rory McIlroy himself, all eyes are on Abu Dhabi. And this time, the Northern Irishman’s hoping history finally gives him the trophy that got away.
